Motorists beware with road plows

With the area receiving one of its first significant snowfalls of the season on Sunday, road officials are reminding motorists to use caution when they encounter a snow plow.

Shawna Jankoviak

With the area receiving one of its first significant snowfalls of the season on Sunday, road officials are reminding motorists to use caution when they encounter a snow plow.

The Michigan Department of Transportation and the County Road Association of Michigan have begun their annual education campaign, “Snowplows need room to groom!” Its intent is to remind motorists to remember good driving habits in winter weather conditions.

“Road crews put their lives on the line every day to keep Michigan roads safe for everyone,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle in a press release. “Motorists must remember to drive with caution no matter how much salt we use or how often the roads are plowed.”

Road crews must have ample room in order to safely clear the roadways of snow and ice, according to MDOT officials.

CRAM Director John Niemela agreed, noting the danger that can result from a lack of focus.“Motorists must do their best to minimize distractions and focus on driving and changes in road conditions,” Niemela said in a release. “Every year, despite the flashing lights on snowplow trucks, poor driver behavior near snowplows leads to collisions that can be deadly.”

Cheboygan County Road Commission Managing Director Mike Roper said years of serving on a liability pool board have led him to learn of the many serious accidents that happen between plows and drivers.

“A lot of them occur when plows are backing up at an intersection, and people pull up too close behind them and don’t realize that the truck drivers can’t see them,” Roper noted.

Roper stressed that motorists should be far enough behind a plow truck so they can see the truck’s side mirrors.

Roper said snow plows are legally allowed to use the crossovers between the lanes of a freeway, so motorists who are traveling behind one should know that plows could make left turn to do so.Motorists attempting to pass a snow plow on the right could hit the plow’s wing, and the clouds of snow that plows kick up can reduce visibility.

“Drivers should be very careful if they are coming past a plow,” Roper said.